National Capital Area Minority/Underserved NCORP Clinical Research

Clinical Research Areas

Click on a topic below to see current clinical trials for the area indicated.

Biospecimens

Study Title: Blinded Reference Set for Multicancer Detection Blood Tests (MCED) (Study ID# A212102)
Principal Investigator: Lucile Adams-Campbell, PhD
This study collects blood and tissue samples from patients with cancer and without cancer to evaluate tests for early cancer detection. Collecting and storing samples of blood and tissue from patients with and without cancer to study in the laboratory may help researchers develop tests for the early detection of cancers.
Primary Objective: To provide a blinded reference set of cancer versus (vs.) non-cancer blood samples that will be used to validate assays for inclusion in a prospective clinical trial focused on utility of blood-based multi-cancer early detection.

Outline: Participants complete a questionnaire at baseline. Participants undergo collection of blood samples at registration and at 12 months after registration. Patients with a cancer diagnosis may undergo collection of tissue samples at registration and 12 months after registration.

After completion of study, participants are followed up at 1 year.

Breast

Study Title: Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) (Study ID# EA1151)
Principal Investigator: Judy Song, MD
TMIST is a randomized breast screening trial that will help researchers learn about the best ways to screen for breast cancer in women who have no symptoms. It compares two types of FDA-approved digital mammography: standard digital mammography (2-D) and a newer technology called tomosynthesis mammography (3-D). Another important aspect of the trial is to build a tissue bank for future research. All women who join the trial will be asked to submit tissue samples, such as blood and buccal cells, to help personalize the way we screen for breast cancer in the future. Women ages 45 to 74 who are planning to get a routine screening mammogram are eligible for this trial. For additional information regarding the TMIST study, please call (202) 784-2700.

Study Title: COMprehensive Use of Pathologic Response ASSessment to Optimize Therapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: COMPASSHER2 Residual Disease (RD), A Double-Blinded, Phase III Randomized Trial of T-DM1 and Placebo Compared with T-DM1 and Tucatinib (Study ID# A011801)
Principal Investigator: Shruti Tiwari, MD
This phase III trial studies how well trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and tucatinib work in preventing breast cancer from relapsing)in patients with high risk, HER2 positive breast cancer. T-DM1 is a monoclonal antibody, called trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug, called DM1. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors, and delivers DM1 to kill them. Tucatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving T-DM1 and tucatinib may work better in preventing breast cancer from relapsing in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer compared to T-DM1 alone.

Study Title: Studying the Effect of Denosumab on Preventing Breast Cancer in Women With a BRCA1 Germline Mutation (BRCA-P) (Study ID# A211801)
Principal Investigators: Claudine Isaacs, MD
This phase III trial compares denosumab to placebo for the prevention of breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 germline mutation. A germline mutation is an inherited gene change which, in the BRCA1 gene, is associated with an increased risk of breast and other cancers. Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat bone loss in order to reduce the risk of bone fractures in healthy people, and to reduce new bone growths in cancer patients whose cancer has spread to their bones. Research has shown that denosumab may also reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women carrying a BRCA1 germline mutation.

Colorectal

Study Title: Colon Adjuvant Chemotherapy Based on Evaluation of Residual Disease (CIRCULATE-US) (Study ID# NRG-GI008)
Principal Investigator: Benjamin Weinberg, MD and Anteneh Tesfaye, MD
This Phase II/III trial will evaluate the what kind of chemotherapy to recommend to patients based on the presence or absences of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery for colon cancer.

Currently, there are no biomarkers validated prospectively in randomized studies for resected colon cancer to determine need for adjuvant chemotherapy. However, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) shed into the bloodstream represents a highly specific and sensitive approach (especially with serial monitoring) for identifying microscopic or residual tumor cells in colon cancer patients and may outperform traditional clinical and pathological features in prognosticating risk for recurrence. Colon cancer patients who do not have detectable ctDNA (ctDNA-) are at a much lower risk of recurrence and may not need adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, for colon cancer pts with detectable ctDNA (ctDNA+) who are at a very high risk of recurrence, the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy regimen has not been established. We hypothesize that for pts whose colon cancer has been resected, ctDNA status may be used to risk stratify for making decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy.

Genitourinary

Study Title: A Randomized Phase III Trial of Intravesical BCG VeRsus Intravesical Docetaxel and GEmcitabine Treatment in BCG Naive High Grade Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (BRIDGE) (Study ID# EA8212)
Principal Investigator: Lambros Stamatakis, MD
The study hypothesis is that BCG naïve non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with intravesical Gemcitabine + Docetaxel (GEMDOCE) will result in a non-inferior event-free survival (EFS) compared to standard treatment with intravesical BCG. The purpose of this study is to test whether Gemcitabine + Docetaxel is a better or worse treatment than the usual BCG therapy approach. The primary objective of this study is to determine the event free survival (EFS) of BCG-naïve high grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients treated with intravesical BCG vs Gemcitabine + Docetaxel. Secondary objectives are as follows: to compare changes in cancer-specific and bladder cancer-specific QOL from baseline to treatment between BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients receiving BCG and GEMDOCE, to determine the cystectomy free survival (CFS) of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE, to determine the progression free survival (PFS) of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE, and to determine the safety and toxicity of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE.

Psychosocial

Study Title: Developing an Internet-Delivered Sexual Health Program for Breast Cancer Survivors, SHINE Trial (SHINE) (Study ID # WF-2202)
Principal Investigator: Ami Chitalia, MD and Claudine Isaacs, MD

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop an effective internet-delivered program to help breast cancer survivors manage cancer-related sexual concerns.

This study is being done to find out if the study approach is better or worse than the usual approach to helping breast cancer survivors manage cancer-related sexual concerns. The usual approach is defined as care most cancer survivors get for their cancer-related sexual concerns.

Participants will complete a questionnaire and if they qualify, they will be assigned to one of sixteen groups of participants. Groups will get access to various kinds of help through an Internet-delivered program called SHINE, which was designed and is run by researchers at the University of Virginia Center for Behavioral Health and Technology. All groups will get access to education about sexual health after cancer: either a standard education website or an enhanced education web program. Groups may also receive up to three additional web programs on: talking to your clinicians about sexual concerns, and/or talking to your partner about sexual concerns, and/or increasing intimacy. Participants are asked to complete the SHINE program within 12 weeks.

After participants finish this 12-week period, the study team will ask them to complete a questionnaire to check in with the participant. The participant will be asked one additional time 12 weeks later to complete another questionnaire to see how the participant is doing. A participant will be in the study for 24 weeks.

Lung

Study Title: Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial (ALCHEMIST) (Study ID# A151216)
Principal Investigator: Chul Kim MD and Irina Veytsman, MD
This ALCHEMIST trial studies genetic testing in screening patients with stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that has been or will be removed by surgery. Studying the genes in a patient’s tumor cells may help doctors select the best treatment for patients that have certain genetic changes.

Study Title: Testing the Addition of a Type of Drug Called Immunotherapy to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, ALCHEMIST Chemo-IO Study (Study ID# A081801)
Principal Investigator: Chul Kim, MD
This phase III ALCHEMIST trial compares the addition of pembrolizumab to usual chemotherapy versus usual chemotherapy for the treatment of stage IB, II, or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that has been removed by surgery. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body’s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, pemetrexed, carboplatin, gemcitabine hydrochloride, and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. The purpose of this trial is to find out if the addition of pembrolizumab to usual chemotherapy is better or worse than usual chemotherapy alone for non-small cell lung cancer.

Study Title: Maintenance systemic therapy vs local consolidative therapy plus maintenance systemic therapy for metastatic NSCLC (Study ID# NRG-LU002)
Principal Investigator: David Perry, MD
This randomized phase II/III trial studies how well giving maintenance chemotherapy with or without local consolidation therapy works in treating patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Drugs used in maintenance chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, pemetrexed disodium, erlotinib hydrochloride, and gemcitabine work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Local consolidation therapy such as radiation/stereotactic body radiation or surgery may kill cancer cells left after initial treatment. Giving maintenance chemotherapy and local consolidation therapy together may work better than maintenance chemotherapy alone in treating patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Pediatric

Study Title: The Project: EveryChild Protocol: A Registry, Eligibility Screening, Biology and Outcome Study (Study ID# APEC14B1)
Principal Investigator: Caileigh Pudela, MD
This study gathers health information for the Project: Every Child for younger patients with cancer. Gathering health information over time from younger patients with cancer may help doctors find better methods of treatment and on-going care.

Study Title: NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) – Phase 2 Subprotocol of Palbociclib in Patients with Tumors Harboring Activating Alterations in Cell Cycle Genes (Study ID# APEC1621I)
Principal Investigator: Caileigh Pudela, MD
This phase II Pediatric MATCH trial studies how well palbociclib works in treating patients with Rb positive solid tumors, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or histiocytic disorders with activating alterations (mutations) in cell cycle genes that have spread to other places in the body and have come back or do not respond to treatment. Palbociclib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

Study Title: Randomized Phase 3 Study of Vincristine, Dactinomycin, Cyclophosphamide (VAC) Alternating with Vincristine and Irinotecan (VI) Versus VAC/VI Plus Temsirolimus (TORI, Torisel, NSC# 683864) in Patients with Intermediate Risk (IR) Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) (Study ID# ARST1431)
Principal Investigator: Caileigh Pudela, MD
This randomized phase III trial studies how well combination chemotherapy (vincristine sulfate, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide alternated with vincristine sulfate and irinotecan hydrochloride or vinorelbine) works compared to combination chemotherapy plus temsirolimus in treating patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer that forms in the soft tissues, such as muscle), and has an intermediate chance of coming back after treatment (intermediate risk). Drugs used work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Combination chemotherapy and temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether chemotherapy plus temsirolimus is more effective than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma.

Study Title: A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin (IND#:133494, NSC#: 772518) for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk B-ALL; Risk-Adapted Post-Induction Therapy for High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and Disseminated B-LLy (Study ID# AALL1732)
Principal Investigator: Caileigh Pudela, MD
This phase III trial studies whether inotuzumab ozogamicin added to post-induction chemotherapy for patients with High-Risk B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) improves outcomes. This trial also studies the outcomes of patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), and B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LLy) when treated with ALL therapy without inotuzumab ozogamicin. Inotuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal antibody, called inotuzumab, linked to a type of chemotherapy called calicheamicin. Inotuzumab attaches to cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers calicheamicin to kill them. Other drugs used in the chemotherapy regimen, such as cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dexamethasone, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, methotrexate, leucovorin, mercaptopurine, prednisone, thioguanine, vincristine, and pegaspargase work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. This trial will also study the outcomes of patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) and disseminated B lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LLy) when treated with high-risk ALL chemotherapy.

Study Title: A Phase 2 Study of Veliparib (ABT-888, IND # 139199) and Local Irradiation, Followed by Maintenance Veliparib and Temozolomide, in Patients with Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma (HGG) Without H3 K27M or BRAFV600 Mutations (Study ID# ACNS1721)
Principal Investigator: Caileigh Pudela, MD
This phase II trial studies how well veliparib, radiation therapy, and temozolomide work in treating patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma without H3 K27M or BRAFV600 mutations. Poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribose polymerases (PARPs) are proteins that help repair DNA mutations. PARP inhibitors, such as veliparib, can keep PARP from working, so tumor cells can’t repair themselves, and they may stop growing. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving veliparib, radiation therapy, and temozolomide may work better in treating patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma without H3 K27M or BRAFV600 mutations compared to radiation therapy and temozolomide alone.

Skin

Study Title: A Phase II Randomized Study of Adjuvant Versus NeoAdjuvant MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) for Clinically Detectable Stage III-IV High-Risk Melanoma (Study ID# S1801)
Principal Investigator: Geoffrey Gibney, MD
This phase II trial studies how pembrolizumab works before and after surgery in treating patients with stage III-IV high-risk melanoma. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body’s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving pembrolizumab before and after surgery may work better compared to after surgery alone in treating melanoma.

Study Title: A Randomized Phase III Trial of Dabrafenib + Trametinib Followed by Ipilimumab + Nivolumab at Progression vs. Ipilimumab + Nivolumab Followed by Dabrafenib + Trametinib at Progression in Patients With Advanced BRAFV600 Mutant Melanoma. DREAMseq (Doublet, Randomized Evaluation in Advanced Melanoma Sequencing) (Study ID# EA6134)
Principal Investigator: Michael Atkins, MD
This phase III trial studies how well initial treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by dabrafenib and trametinib works and compares it to initial treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib followed by ipilimumab and nivolumab in treating patients with stage III-IV melanoma that contains a mutation known as BRAFV600 and cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, may help the body’s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Dabrafenib and trametinib may block tumor growth by targeting the BRAFV600 gene. It is not yet known whether treating patients with ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by dabrafenib and trametinib is more effective than treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib followed by ipilimumab and nivolumab.